arrivals soar towards new peaks
20 April 2006
"At our annual Indaba last year we issued a challenge to the tourism
industry to rise above the already-record tourism arrival figures of 6.7
million in 2004, and to break the key psychological barrier of seven million
international arrivals in 2005. Today we see the fruits of that labour with the
announcement of the spectacular performance of tourism last year not only
meeting, but far exceeding that goal and every expectation." This was the
jubilant response of Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism, to the release on Thursday by StatsSA of the annual tourist
arrival figures for 2005.
"The fact that more than 7.3 million international travellers experienced
the excitement, energy and dynamism of South Africa last year is the most
positive indicator yet that we are set to scale new peaks of tourism success,"
said the Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism. Minister van Schalkwyk
further added "This is only the beginning. Tourism has been tasked with a
number of major national responsibilities. The targets for job creation and
increased contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), set in terms of our
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), have
established great expectations and these arrival figures confirm that we are
well on our way to realising that potential."
Commending all tourism role-players for the major increase the Minister
said: "We have ignited the South African brand and are using it to set alight
the possibilities. From China to Paris, from New York to Nairobi the word is
out - South Africa is the place where everything is possible, and all people
are welcome. We must recognise the role played by every member of our tourism
sector in this success from the Management of SA Tourism to our partners in the
private sector; from educational institutions to the smallest tourism operators
and guides in the most remote parts of South Africa. This success is your
success. Our shared challenge now is to boost this achievement to even greater
heights in 2006 and beyond."
Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Cell: 083 778 9923
Monde Mateza
SA Tourism
Cell: 084 607 5985
Tel: (011) 895 3043
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
20 April 2006
